Animate In Procreate: A Step-by-Step Guide

Hey guys! Ever wanted to bring your Procreate art to life? Animation might seem daunting, but trust me, it's super achievable, and Procreate makes it surprisingly fun. This guide is your ultimate resource for diving into the world of Procreate animation, from the very basics to some cool advanced techniques. We'll explore everything, so grab your Apple Pencil, and let's get started!

Understanding Procreate's Animation Features

Let's kick things off by understanding what Procreate offers in the animation department. Procreate's animation features are centered around Animation Assist, a powerful tool that makes frame-by-frame animation a breeze. Animation Assist turns your canvas into a mini animation studio, displaying frames as layers and allowing you to control playback, onion skinning, and more. It's designed to be intuitive, perfect for both beginners and experienced animators.

Animation Assist: Your New Best Friend

The core of animating in Procreate is the Animation Assist feature. To activate it, go to the Actions menu (the wrench icon), tap Canvas, and toggle on Animation Assist. Once activated, you'll see a new toolbar appear at the bottom of your screen. This toolbar is your control center for animation, giving you access to tools like frame management, playback controls, and onion skin settings.

• Frames Panel: This panel displays all your animation frames as individual layers. You can easily add, delete, duplicate, and rearrange frames here. Think of each frame as a snapshot in time, contributing to the overall animation sequence.
• Playback Controls: These are your standard play, pause, loop, and reverse buttons. They allow you to preview your animation at different speeds and in different directions.
• Onion Skin Settings: Onion skinning is a crucial animation technique. It displays faint outlines of the previous and next frames, helping you visualize the movement and plan your next steps. Procreate allows you to customize the opacity and number of onion skin frames.
• Frame Options: Each frame has its own set of options, accessible by tapping the frame in the Frames Panel. You can set a frame's duration, making it appear for a longer or shorter time in the animation. You can also choose to hold a frame, which keeps it visible until the next frame is displayed.

Key Concepts in Procreate Animation

Before we jump into the practical stuff, let's nail down some fundamental animation concepts. Understanding these principles will significantly improve the quality and fluidity of your animations. These key concepts are the bedrock of any good animation, regardless of the software you're using.

• Frame Rate: Frame rate is the number of frames displayed per second (fps). A higher frame rate results in smoother animation. For web animations, 12-15 fps is often sufficient, while film and TV typically use 24-30 fps. Procreate allows you to adjust the frame rate to suit your project's needs. Experiment with different frame rates to see what works best for your style and the desired effect.
• Onion Skinning: We touched on this earlier, but it's worth reiterating. Onion skinning is vital for creating smooth transitions between frames. By seeing the previous and next frames faintly overlaid, you can make accurate adjustments and avoid jerky movements. Master the use of onion skinning, and your animations will instantly look more polished.
• Keyframes: Keyframes are the pivotal frames in your animation, defining the start and end points of a movement. In Procreate, you'll draw these key poses first, then fill in the frames in between (the “in-betweens”) to create the illusion of motion. Identifying your keyframes helps to plan the animation and ensures the most important poses are captured.
• In-betweens: These are the frames that connect your keyframes, creating the smooth transition between poses. Drawing accurate in-betweens is crucial for fluid animation. Practice creating gradual changes between keyframes, paying attention to the spacing and timing of your in-betweens.

Step-by-Step: Creating Your First Procreate Animation

Alright, let's put theory into practice! We'll walk through the process of creating a simple animation in Procreate, step by step. This will give you a solid foundation and the confidence to tackle more complex projects. Don't worry about perfection at this stage; the goal is to get comfortable with the workflow.

1. Setting Up Your Canvas

First things first, let's create a new canvas in Procreate. A good starting size is 1920 x 1080 pixels, which is a standard HD resolution. You can also choose a square canvas if you're planning to share your animation on social media platforms like Instagram. Remember that a larger canvas gives you more detail but can also slow down Procreate if you have many layers.

2. Activating Animation Assist

As we discussed earlier, activate Animation Assist by going to Actions > Canvas > Animation Assist. The Animation Assist toolbar will appear at the bottom of your screen, ready for action. Take a moment to familiarize yourself with the layout of the frames panel and the various controls.

3. Drawing Your First Frame

Select your desired brush and color, and draw your first frame on Layer 1. This could be a simple shape, a character pose, or anything you want to animate. Remember, this is just the first step, so don't overthink it. Keep it simple and clear so you can easily build upon it in the following frames. Start with the most important poses if you're planning to animate a specific action.

4. Adding New Frames

To add a new frame, tap the Add Frame button (the plus icon) in the Animation Assist toolbar. A new layer will be created, becoming your next frame. Procreate automatically turns on onion skinning, allowing you to see a faint outline of your previous frame. This is super helpful for lining up the next drawing and creating a smooth transition.

5. Animating Your Subject

Now comes the fun part – animating! Use the onion skin as a guide to draw your next frame, making a slight change or adjustment to your subject. For example, if you're animating a bouncing ball, you might move the ball slightly downwards. Keep adding frames and making small changes to create the illusion of movement. Remember the principles of animation like squash and stretch to add dynamic flair to your animation.

6. Adjusting Frame Duration

Sometimes you might want a frame to appear for a longer or shorter time. To adjust a frame's duration, tap the frame in the Frames Panel, then select the Frames per Second option. You can increase or decrease the duration, affecting how long the frame is displayed. Using different frame durations can add emphasis or create rhythmic variations in your animation.

7. Previewing Your Animation

Use the playback controls in the Animation Assist toolbar to preview your animation. Tap the Play button to see your frames come to life. You can adjust the playback speed and loop settings to get a better sense of the animation. Pay close attention to the timing and smoothness of the motion. If something doesn't look quite right, go back and adjust the individual frames.

8. Exporting Your Animation

Once you're happy with your animation, it's time to export it. Go to Actions > Share and choose your desired export format. Procreate offers several options, including animated GIFs, MP4 videos, and individual frames. Animated GIFs are great for sharing on social media, while MP4 videos are better for longer animations or projects requiring higher quality. Choose the format that best suits your needs.

Advanced Animation Techniques in Procreate

Once you've mastered the basics, it's time to level up your animation skills with some advanced techniques. These techniques will help you create more polished, dynamic, and engaging animations. Let's dive into some awesome tricks!

Looping Animations

Looping animations are perfect for GIFs, backgrounds, or any animation that needs to repeat seamlessly. The key to a good loop is making the first and last frames connect smoothly. This creates the illusion that the animation is repeating endlessly without any noticeable jump.

• Planning Your Loop: Before you start animating, think about how the animation will loop. What action can naturally transition back to its starting point? A simple example is a flickering flame or a character blinking. Plan the beginning and end poses so they are similar or even identical.
• Creating the Transition: Pay extra attention to the transition between the last and first frames. Use onion skinning to ensure the movement flows seamlessly. You might need to add a few extra frames to bridge the gap and avoid a jarring jump. Test the loop frequently to catch any rough spots early on.
• Exporting as GIF: When exporting a looping animation, choose the GIF format. GIFs are designed for looping, and Procreate will handle the export process smoothly. Check the animation in a GIF viewer to ensure the loop is working correctly.

Adding Motion Blur

Motion blur adds a sense of speed and dynamism to your animations. It simulates the blurring effect seen in real-life motion, making your animations look more natural and fluid. Procreate doesn't have a dedicated motion blur filter for Animation Assist, but you can create the effect manually.

• The Manual Motion Blur Technique: To create motion blur, duplicate the frame you want to blur. On the duplicated frame, use the Motion Blur filter (found in Adjustments) to blur the image slightly in the direction of the movement. Reduce the opacity of the blurred frame and place it behind the original frame. This will create a subtle trail effect, simulating motion blur.
• Experimenting with Blur Amount: The amount of blur you use will depend on the speed of the movement. Faster movements require more blur. Experiment with different blur settings to achieve the desired effect. Too much blur can make the animation look messy, so start subtle and increase the blur gradually.
• Using Motion Blur Sparingly: Motion blur is a powerful tool, but it's best used sparingly. Overusing motion blur can make your animation look blurry and less sharp. Focus on adding motion blur to key movements to emphasize speed and impact.

Utilizing the Onion Skinning Effectively

We've talked about onion skinning, but let's explore how to use it even more effectively. Onion skinning is not just about seeing the previous and next frames; it's about using that information to make informed decisions about your animation.

• Adjusting Onion Skin Opacity: Procreate allows you to adjust the opacity of the onion skin layers. This is super useful for fine-tuning your animation. If you're working on a complex animation, reducing the opacity can make the onion skin less distracting. If you need to see the previous and next frames more clearly, increase the opacity.
• Using Different Onion Skin Colors: Procreate can display the previous frames in one color and the next frames in another color. This makes it easier to distinguish between the frames and visualize the movement. Experiment with different color combinations to find what works best for you.
• Planning Your Movement with Onion Skin: Use the onion skin to plan the arc and timing of your movement. The spacing between the onion skin frames will indicate the speed of the movement. Closer spacing means slower movement, while wider spacing means faster movement. Use this visual feedback to create natural and dynamic motions.

Working with Reference Layers

Reference layers are a fantastic way to keep your animation consistent and accurate. They allow you to use a single layer as a guide for all your frames. This is particularly useful for maintaining the proportions and positioning of characters or objects throughout the animation.

• Setting Up a Reference Layer: To use a layer as a reference, tap the layer in the Layers Panel and select Reference. The reference layer will remain visible in all frames, but it won't be part of the final animation. It's like having a blueprint for your animation.
• Using Reference Layers for Character Consistency: If you're animating a character, use a reference layer to maintain the character's proportions and features. Draw a basic pose of your character on the reference layer, then use it as a guide for drawing the subsequent frames. This will prevent your character from changing shape or size unexpectedly.
• Tracing Over Reference Layers: You can also use reference layers for tracing. For example, you could import a video or image and use it as a reference to create a rotoscoped animation. Simply place the video or image on a reference layer and trace over it frame by frame.

Tips and Tricks for Smoother Procreate Animation

To wrap things up, let's go over some extra tips and tricks that can help you create smoother, more efficient Procreate animations. These are the little details that can make a big difference in your workflow and the final result.

• Use Simple Shapes First: When planning your animation, start with simple shapes and forms. This helps you block out the key movements and poses without getting bogged down in details. Once you're happy with the overall animation, you can add more detail and refine the drawings.
• Plan Your Keyframes: As we mentioned earlier, keyframes are crucial. Plan your key poses before you start drawing the in-betweens. This will give your animation a clear structure and make it easier to create smooth transitions. Sketch out the keyframes roughly to get a sense of the timing and flow of the animation.
• Take Advantage of Quick Menu: The Quick Menu in Procreate is a huge time-saver. You can customize it with your most frequently used tools and actions. Add functions like Undo, Redo, Duplicate, and Clear Layer to your Quick Menu for faster animation workflow.
• Regularly Test Your Animation: Don't wait until you've finished the entire animation to preview it. Regularly test your animation by playing it back to check for smoothness and timing issues. This will help you catch and fix problems early on, saving you time and effort in the long run.
• Organize Your Layers: As your animation becomes more complex, it's crucial to keep your layers organized. Name your layers clearly and group them into folders if needed. This will make it easier to navigate your project and avoid confusion.
• Don't Be Afraid to Experiment: Animation is all about experimentation. Don't be afraid to try new techniques and styles. The more you experiment, the more you'll learn and the more unique your animations will become.

Conclusion

So, there you have it – a comprehensive guide to animating in Procreate! We've covered everything from the basics of Animation Assist to advanced techniques like looping and motion blur. With practice and a little creativity, you'll be creating stunning animations in no time. Remember, the key is to have fun and keep experimenting. Happy animating, guys!